New Echo Lockscreen app puts order in the Android notification chaos

posted by Daniel P. / Jun 19, 2014, 9:50 AM

New Echo Lockscreen app puts order in the Android notification chaos

If you want to stay on top of things with your smartphone, you've no doubt allowed notifications to pop up in your status bar. The trouble is that we have so many communication venues nowadays, and so many apps installed on our phone, vying for attention, that the notification bar quickly becomes crowded with alerts that pretend to need urgent attention.

The new Echo Notification Lockscreen app tries to resolve the problem in a different way than simply pressing the "Clear" button, and getting rid of all alerts in one uncompromising swoop. Echo organizes your notifications in different categories, straight from the lockscreen. The “Priority” alerts are where your most important stuff goes, and once you receive a message there, Echo will turn your screen on, but not for less urgent categories, like “Work” or “Social.” The “Priority” category is gradually populated over time by learning your habits, and is based on the notifications you open most often.

The categories that appear on your lock screen can be further expanded to show their content, and notifications dismissed individually or in groups, straight from your lock screen. The Echo Notification Lockscreen app is still labeled as "beta,” so it's a bit rough around the edges, but holds plenty of promises, so give it a try if you want to see some order in your notification chaos.

Developer: DoubleLabs	Download: Android (v0.8.12)
Category: Personalization	Price: Free

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27 Comments

1. vipervoid123

Posts: 163; Member since: Aug 27, 2013

Look nice ~

posted on Jun 20, 2014, 8:21 AM 0

2. Killua

Posts: 270; Member since: Nov 25, 2013

It looks good but it still has issues, I'd wait until then.

posted on Jun 20, 2014, 8:35 AM 0

6. gustavoace

Posts: 187; Member since: Nov 13, 2012

Exactly.... I used the app for 3 or 4 days, and despite what Daniel P says, it does not organize notification. It tries hard, but the notification does not disappear after you read it, and it is annoying. And that iphonish look of the unlock... Is it really necessary? And as it uses screen filter, it disables you to install any apk... You have either disable it or uninstall it . Looks nice, thats all

posted on Jun 20, 2014, 10:12 AM 0

7. jesusnexo unregistered

still a beta

posted on Jun 20, 2014, 1:09 PM 0

13. EchoLocker

Posts: 7; Member since: Jun 20, 2014

Echo developer here. We just pushed an update that makes organizing your notifications much better. We now sync notifications with your notification center so that messages do not pile up. You also have the option of defining what category you want notifications to appear. The sideloading issue is a known bug we're working hard to fix. Please check out the new Echo and if you have any questions, send us an email at support@echolocker.com

posted on Jun 20, 2014, 9:24 PM 1

3. admeenp

Posts: 3; Member since: Jun 20, 2014

is it compatible with Jellybean?

posted on Jun 20, 2014, 9:02 AM 0

14. EchoLocker

Not yet. We built for 4.3 and above because of limitations with notification access. We do have plans to make Echo available for lower builds.

posted on Jun 20, 2014, 9:25 PM 0

4. AfterShock

Posts: 4146; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

Information on the other side of the phones lock screen does me no good, those that pick it up off table maybe. Can it be locked even?

posted on Jun 20, 2014, 9:43 AM 0

15. EchoLocker

Hi AfterShock - Echo can lock. It works with your default security. What type of information would do you more good? Try echo and let us know how we can make it better by emailing us at support@echolocker.com

posted on Jun 20, 2014, 9:26 PM 0

5. mistertimi

Posts: 77; Member since: May 28, 2014

Looks nice, but having to open each category to see what's in there, is actually a step back. I'll stick to removing each individual app's notifications with a swipe. But thanks ;)

posted on Jun 20, 2014, 9:49 AM 0

16. EchoLocker

Hi Mistertimi - Notifications that are grouped into Priority are open by default. We also show each individual notification. If you receive multiple texts from whatsapp, you don't need to expand whatsapp to see each message. Try Echo and let us know what you think :)

posted on Jun 20, 2014, 9:27 PM 0

21. mistertimi

Wow! Hi EchoLocker haha, nice to see devs here, I'll check it out over the next week or so and then come to a proper conclusion

posted on Jun 21, 2014, 5:57 AM 0

8. jesusnexo unregistered

last time i checked it didnt work with 4.1.2... did they support that now?

posted on Jun 20, 2014, 1:10 PM 0

9. signsign

Posts: 9; Member since: Jun 20, 2014

I think this app has a better approach on notifications: Touchless Notifications It shows and reads aloud my notifications as they come in, or I can say "What's up" and then it plays me kind of like a slideshow, and reads them out similar to the MotoX. Search for it in the play store.

posted on Jun 20, 2014, 1:22 PM 2

10. presser88

great for driving

posted on Jun 20, 2014, 1:25 PM 0

11. donald2

Posts: 1; Member since: Jun 20, 2014

plus one

posted on Jun 20, 2014, 1:27 PM 0

22. EchoLocker

Thanks for posting about your app...on every article about Echo.

posted on Jun 21, 2014, 2:07 PM 1

24. sriuslywtf

Posts: 297; Member since: Jul 09, 2013

Lol! Made my day on that comment.. Thank you

posted on Jun 21, 2014, 7:59 PM 0

12. kaikuheadhunterz

Posts: 1157; Member since: Jul 18, 2013

How does it decide which notification goes to which category?

posted on Jun 20, 2014, 8:40 PM 0

17. EchoLocker

Hi there - When you first install Echo, all apps that are communication based (messaging, email, and social) are ranked Priority. All other notifications are grouped by the app category. You can also long swipe to the right to define the categories yourself. Just swipe right on a FB message and add it to the social category. -Katy

posted on Jun 20, 2014, 9:29 PM 1

18. kaikuheadhunterz

Oh thank you

posted on Jun 20, 2014, 10:38 PM 0

19. jesusnexo unregistered

Are you gonna make it available for the 4.1.2 ?

posted on Jun 21, 2014, 2:43 AM 0

20. Thief76

Posts: 8; Member since: Jun 03, 2014

Hi , it's nice but need to be updated , I can't change my wallpaper

posted on Jun 21, 2014, 4:03 AM 0

23. EchoLocker

You can change your wallpaper! Open Echo settings, and choose "set my wallpaper". You'll then be able to choose any image as your wallpaper.

posted on Jun 21, 2014, 2:08 PM 0

25. shexmo

Posts: 1; Member since: Jun 22, 2014

Hello EchoLocker! Really nice app, but I have a problem on my S4. While the screen is off and I get a call, everything works fine. One I miss the call the screen do not turn black and locked again, remains active, and that's a problem if I have the phone in my pocket. Is it me or there is a function I did not enabled/disabled? Thank you. mat

posted on Jun 22, 2014, 9:33 AM 0

26. Scorpion

Posts: 103; Member since: Apr 28, 2012

Works really nice in tandem with the smart launcher.

posted on Jun 22, 2014, 4:03 PM 0

27. REKCUT_ENAHS

Posts: 1; Member since: Aug 06, 2014

after I updated the Echo app today 8/6/2014 when the screen locks I am unable to resume what I was currently doing once I unlock. so I had to turn Echo off. I loved using Echo until that happened.